Integrated computer-aided software engineering (ICASE) tools and
their effect on software development effort and productivity have
gained interest in recent research. This research studies the
applicability of function points and technical complexity factor
as software development effort estimators for ICASE projects.
In addition, the effect of three factors-ICASE tool type, systems
development method, and ICASE tool experience-on software development
productivity is studied. ICASE-based software projects from Texas
Instruments and Electronic Data Systems were used in this empirical
research. Function points accounted for 74-82 percent of the variance
in software development effort. Technical complexity factor, however,
had only a small indirect effect on software effort. While software
productivity differences between the ICASE tool types could not
be confirmed, productivity was significantly higher for the rapid
application development method in comparison with the productivity
associated with the traditional systems development life cycle
method. Higher levels of ICASE tool experience were associated
with significant increases in software productivity.
Key words and phrases: function points , integrated CASE tools , rapid application development , software development effort estimation , systems development method